We get up early to prepare for the day’s journey, we’re nonetheless an hour from Marion and the beginning of the Virginia facet of the Again of the Dragon. Now thoughts you, it was not our option to get up this early. Our lodge “neighbors” children had been totally awake and working round and slamming their room door.
Fortunately, we now had dry garments, the storm the day earlier than soaked every part we had been carrying. The usual lodge “continental” breakfast crammed our stomachs sufficient to get us on the bike and down the street.
Attending to the beginning of US Route 16, which is the Again of the Dragon was simple sufficient and rapidly we had been driving the Dragon. Passing Hungry Mom State Park, we start to climb into the mountain and begin the twisties.
What an ideal journey! It was a cool morning, blue sunny skies with puff clouds, and the Harley Davidson bike was working properly. I used to be utilizing our Go Professional and I assumed my restricted Go Professional abilities had the digital camera working correctly (seems it kinda was and kinda not, I REALLY, must learn instructions). Will probably be some time earlier than I can edit and publish the video, not my sturdy swimsuit.
We made a cease at what is known as the “Again of the Dragon Lookout”. With the clear skies we might see 3 distant ridges together with some valley farmlands. A really good view and you need to cease to test it out should you journey the dragon.
The street was an ideal deal with for those who love twists and turns. As we had been driving within the early-ish morning there was little visitors. The one hazard was a lifeless deer that straddled each lanes. Driving by means of sections of the street titled “Cliff Hanger”, “Zero Gravity”, “Knee Dragger”, and the “Curler coaster” acquired us to what’s known as “Million Greenback View and Kudzu Nook.
Kudzu Nook is about two thirds of the way in which by means of the Again of the Dragon and that final third is simply as thrilling as the remainder. I can extremely suggest that you just check out the 32 miles, 438 curves and the 3500 ft of elevation as it’s simply as enjoyable because the Tail of the Dragon in Tennessee.
On the north finish of the route, in Tazwell, VA, there’s a Again of the Dragon store catering to each bike and automobile fanatics who come to make the journey. A really good setup with shirts/pins/patches and all the opposite issues that we like to gather. The constructing additionally has a brewery, espresso store and meals vans (the meals was good). There’s additionally a photograph op with a really large dragon!
After the go to to Tazwell, we set off north on US16 to discover the remainder of the Again of Dragon. This a part of the Dragon was simply as a lot enjoyable to journey because the half we simply left. Passing the Virginia, West Virginia boarder we had been shortly not solely on the Again of the Dragon we had been additionally on the Coal Heritage Path which is an American Byway.
The Coal Heritage Path was additionally on my bucket listing, so I used to be capable of knock out each! We handed by means of the coal cities of Warfare, Welch, Pineville, Sofia, and lots of others. Sadly, many of those cities have seen higher days now that coal is being phased out.
While you attain Beckley, WV Route 16 will likely be a mixture of 2 lane and 4 lanes for about 20 miles, you will have to concentrate to the intersections to be sure to keep on route as a lot as potential. While you attain the city of Fayetteville you can be again on a 2-lane street, and you’ll drop down into the New River Gorge.
While you attain Beckley, WV Route 16 will likely be a mixture of 2 lane and 4 lanes for about 20 miles, you will have to concentrate to the intersections to be sure to keep on route as a lot as potential. While you attain the city of Fayetteville you can be again on a 2-lane street, and you’ll drop down into the New River Gorge.
Climbing out of the Gorge you’ll face among the finest twists and turns of West Virgina facet of the dragon. A part of this street can also be known as the Talon, an 8-mile journey from the city of Ansted and Gauley Bridge. This must be an ideal facet journey for anybody driving the Again of the Dragon that won’t price you a lot time.
Ansted is the place we stopped for the night time.
Subsequent up – Day 3 Taming the Dragon
